Towler v. Commonwealth’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

18 state decisions

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 18 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “[W]e must dismiss the writ as improvidently awarded. We take the occasion ... to reiterate the jurisdictional nature of [former] Rule 5:9 and to reemphasize the necessity of compliance with its mandatory requirements. * * * % * * These are simple, easily understood rule provisions. But they are jurisdictional, and failure to comply therewith will result ... in dismissal, either before or after appeal is awarded. We dislike dismissing appeals for jurisdictional defects even where, as here, we would likely affirm the judgment of the trial court. Dismissal is especially unpalatable, however, where the correctness of a ruling below is apparent.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Durso v. Hottle · 56 Va. App. 351 - Smith v. Commonwealth

2. “[w]e take the occasion ... to reiterate the [consequences of a violation of Rule 5A:20] and to reemphasize the necessity of compliance with its ... requirements. We do this because we have observed far too many violations of this rule; and we lament the numerous instances in which we have been forced to [deem an argument waived] because of failure to observe the rule’s requirements. 4”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Timothy Kenneth Bartley v. Commonwealth of Virginia · 56 Va. App. 351 - Smith v. Commonwealth

3. “continue to be the price of failure to comply with mandatory rule provisions”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Morrison v. Bestler